a narrow description

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a narrow description" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a limited or specific characterization of something, often implying that it lacks breadth or detail. Example: "The report provided a narrow description of the issue, failing to address the broader context."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The apprentices are referring to the time sheet in order to understand what competencies need to be developed, which provides a narrow description of which competencies the apprentices should develop.

Empirical Research in Vocational Education and Training

Most current reviews on epigenetics provide a narrow description usually focusing on three constituent regulatory systems; DNA (CpG) methylation, histone posttranslational modifications, and microRNAs (miRNAs).

Hepatology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

We propose a way to operationalize the concept of adaptation policy, provide a narrower description of the research designs for policy change or outcomes analysis, and finally discuss possible measurements concepts.

Global Environmental Change

Although the neural network is tailored to discriminate the full 61 TIMIT phones, these symbols are sometimes considered a too narrow description for practical use, and for evaluation purposes we collapsed the 61 TIMIT labels into the standard 39 phones as proposed by Lee and Hon[31].

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

The references to human zoos and ethnographic displays in the media are a simple but narrow description of what we believe the show to be.

The Guardian

Decide on a broad or narrow description.

WikiHow

These days, the phrase has been embraced by fourth wave feminists and allies like The Good Men Project, who define it as a, "narrow and repressive description of manhood, designating manhood as defined by violence, sex, status, and aggression".

Vice

We have seen that there are various sorts of thing a narrow content could be: a description, a conceptual role, a function from contexts to broad contents, a diagonal proposition, or a set of maximal epistemic possibilities.

SEP

Finally, the evolution of the normalized, averaged, displacement flame speed vs. stretch Karlovitz number are found to collapse on a narrow band, suggesting that a unified description of flame speed dependence on stretch rate may be possible in the Lagrangian description.

Combustion and Flame

In the present, and especially in the future, assuring the national security of the United States will be too narrow a description of the American military's mission.

The New York Times - Books

"'Civil rights movement' is too narrow a description," Harding said.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider whether "a narrow description" is appropriate or if a broader, more comprehensive account is needed for your audience to fully understand the subject.

Common error

Avoid using "a narrow description" simply as a negative critique. Instead, explain what aspects are missing or why the description is insufficient. This makes your critique constructive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a narrow description" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "narrow" modifies the noun "description". It indicates a limited or specific characterization. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a narrow description" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English, denoting a limited or specific characterization. According to Ludwig, it's often used to imply a lack of breadth or detail. Its usage is more common in scientific and news contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal register. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clarifies why the description is limited and consider if a broader account is necessary. Remember to avoid overusing the phrase without justification, and offer constructive critiques by specifying what aspects are missing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a limited explanation

Focuses on the extent of the explanation rather than the description itself.

a restricted account

Emphasizes the constrained nature of the account being provided.

a simplified summary

Highlights the lack of complexity in the summary.

a superficial depiction

Suggests that the description lacks depth and thoroughness.

a concise portrayal

Focuses on brevity, potentially at the expense of detail.

a thumbnail sketch

Emphasizes the small size and limited scope of the description.

a basic overview

Indicates that the description covers only fundamental aspects.

a sketchy outline

Suggests a preliminary and incomplete description.

a selective representation

Highlights that only certain aspects are included in the description.

a constrained narrative

Emphasizes the restricted or limited nature of the narrative.

FAQs

How can I use "a narrow description" in a sentence?

You can use "a narrow description" to indicate that a particular account or explanation is limited in scope or detail. For instance, "The report provided "a narrow description" of the problem, focusing only on the financial aspects."

What are some alternatives to "a narrow description"?

Alternatives include "a limited explanation", "a restricted account", or "a simplified summary", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. See more alternatives "limited explanation".

When is it appropriate to use "a narrow description"?

It is appropriate when you want to emphasize that the description is intentionally focused on specific aspects, perhaps due to constraints or a particular purpose. However, ensure that the limitations are clear to the reader.

What does it mean when a description is referred to as "narrow"?

A "narrow" description means that it covers only a limited range of details or aspects of a topic, potentially missing broader context or deeper analysis. It often implies that the description is incomplete or needs further elaboration.